The Difference Between Social Casinos And Sweepstakes Casinos

Users looking for new online gaming platforms might stumble across a social or sweepstakes casino. What are these platforms, and how are they different? Let’s take a look at the differences between social casinos and sweepstakes casinos.

What is a Sweepstakes Casino?

A sweepstakes casino is a platform where users play casino-style games like slots, table games, and more with virtual currency. Users can also compete on leaderboards, collect daily prizes/rewards, and more. With a sweepstakes casino, users can also redeem virtual currency for prizes such as gift cards, cash, and sometimes even cryptocurrency.

It’s important to know the difference between virtual currencies when playing in a sweepstakes app. One of the currencies (usually called Gold Coins) is worth nothing and has no monetary value. It cannot be exchanged or redeemed for prizes. It is used for fun to play games on the platform. The other currency (usually called Sweeps Coins) can be redeemed for prizes after you reach a minimum withdrawal threshold.

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What is a Social Casino?

A social casino is a platform where users can play casino-style games purely for entertainment and fun. You don’t earn prizes, and the goal of these platforms is to have fun playing with friends online. It does not involve real money gambling and is free to play.

As the years have gone on, many brands have blurred the lines between a sweepstakes and a social casino. There are a lot of platforms that are calling themselves a social casino, but they do have the ability for users to win prizes and redeem virtual currency after winning. This is why it’s important to research the platform you plan to use to understand what the rules are and if you have a chance to win real prizes.

For example, High 5 calls itself a social casino, but it does have sweepstakes on its platform. You can also purchase coin packages.

Best Sweepstakes Casinos

There are several sweepstakes casinos worth checking out. Take a look at some of the more popular platforms and their latest promo codes to score yourself a bonus as a new user.

Platform	Promo	Claim
Mega Bonanza	150% on First Purchase + Up to 600K GC & 303 Free SC	Claim
Baba Casino	100% Extra Mega Deal: 500K Gold Coins, 40 SC	Claim
Casino Click	250K Gold Coins, 25 Sweeps Coins	Claim
Crown Coins	200% more coins + 75 Sweeps Coins, 1.5 Million Crown Coins	Claim
Funrize	Get a 75,000 Tournament Coins	Claim
High 5	245% extra + 60 Sweeps Coins, 700 Gold Coins, 400 Diamonds	Claim
NoLimitCoins	100,000 coins	Claim
PlayFame	150% Extra + 25 Sweeps Coins, 60K Gold Coins	Claim
Real Prize	625K Golden Coins, 125 Sweeps Coins, 1250 VIP Points	Claim
Stake.us	56 Stake Cash, 560K Gold Coins, 5% Rakeback	Claim
WOW Vegas Casino	3 days of extra free coins	Claim

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Not available in AL, CA, CT, DE, ID, KY, LA, MD, MI, MT, NV, NJ, NY, TN, WA, and WV. Age 21+ Additional T&Cs apply.

Winning or Redeeming Prizes

A sweepstakes platform operates under a different legal framework than an online casino. This allows the platform to offer prizes without being considered traditional gambling. On most platforms, one of the virtual currencies can be redeemed for prizes like gift cards or cash. Once you hit the minimum threshold, you can withdraw.

Several of these platforms have a minimum of 50 Sweeps Coins before you can withdraw. You redeem those Sweeps Coins for $50 cash into your bank account, or you can get $50 gift cards to popular brands. Sometimes, the exchange rate might vary for gift cards compared to cash, and the minimum withdrawal amount for a gift card might be lower.

What is a Virtual Currency?

A virtual currency is the digital token you use while playing games on social and sweepstakes casinos. These tokens, usually called coins, don’t have any monetary value. They are used for playing games. Most social and sweepstakes casinos will have two types of virtual currencies. They are commonly called Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins, but the names can vary based on the company. With a lot of these platforms, one of the currencies (usually Sweeps Coins) can be redeemed for prizes.

Do I Make Deposits in a Social Casino?

No. With a social or sweepstakes casino, you don’t make deposits to load up your account. You can claim daily bonuses and rewards, which means no purchase is necessary. Some platforms do allow you to purchase coins and virtual currency. For example, you might spend $10 to get 100,000 Gold Coins and 10 Sweeps Coins. You can then use these coins to play games on the platform.

States Where Social and Sweepstakes Casinos are Legal

Availability can depend on several factors. These types of platforms operate under US sweepstakes laws, but that doesn’t mean they will be legal in every state across the country. Lawmakers in each state make the final call on legality based on the type of online platform. Social casinos usually accept players from all states because you are playing for fun, and there is no money involved. But, as we discussed, a casino might call itself a social platform but still have a virtual currency that can be redeemed for prizes as well as accept payment for coin packages.

This is why it can be complicated. Be sure to check your state’s rules and confirm with the online platform that you plan to use if it is legal in your state. There are several states that usually have some form of restrictions or don’t allow sweepstakes casinos, such as Idaho, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, and Washington.

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